ZORASTRIANISM

FOUNDER(S)

• Zoroaster (born in the 7th century)
• A prophet
• Name meaning "Shining Light"

MONOTHESTIC/POLYTHEISTIC

• Monotheistic
• God: Ahuramazda
• Evil Spirit: Angria Maniyu

SYMBOL(S)

• Faravahar
• Depicts of a man rising from a disk and wings spread to the side.
• Used more than 2000 years

DATE OF FOUNDING/ORIGIN

• Ancient Persia about 3500 years ago

LOCATION OF ORIGIN

• Ancient Persia (a.k.a present day Iran)

HOW/WHY DID THE RELIGION SPREAD

• Migration and strive to keep the religion alive

HOLY BOOK(S)

• Zend Avesta (published in the 3rd century)
• Zoroaster's teachings

PLACES OF WORSHIP

• Fire temples

ROLE OF MEN/WOMEN

• Must think for themselves
• Choose good over evil

HOLIDAYS

• Festivals and social life
• Jashan of Ardavisht (Aprill 22)
• Celebrates fire and other illuminations

MAJOR BELIEFS

• Personal ethics in people's actions
• More important than ritual and sacrifice
• Creation and end times story unknown at the time
• Most important command- don't give into evil
• Purpose of life- live happily and optimism

HISTORICAL EVENTS

• Flourished during the 3 great Persian Empires
• 641 A.D Arabs invaded Persia and established Islam.

SIMILARITIES AND DISSIMILARITIES

• Similarites: choose right from wrong, believe in gods, sacred texts
• Differences: no creation story or origin of gods

UNIVERSAL OR ETHNIC RELIGION

• Universal
• Spread throughout world